Strong earthquake kills 381 in China

Published on August 4, 2014 10:36 am

The toll from the 6.5-magnitude devastating earthquake that jolted southwest China's Yunnan province has now risen to over 380. The quake hit at 4:30 pm local time (1400 IST) on Sunday, at a depth of 12 kms with the epicenter in Longtoushan township, 23 kms southwest of the county seat of Ludian, Zhaotong City.

Visuals of a strong earthquake in southern China's Yunnan province that toppled thousands of homes on Sunday. (Source: AP)

At least 381 people have been killed as of Monday morning, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. The massive quake left a trail of destruction with more than 12,000 houses toppled and 30,000 damaged, it said.

A car is crushed by a collapsed building in the epicenter of an earthquake that struck the town of Longtoushan in Ludian county in southwest China's Yunnan province Monday. (Source: AP)

Over 1,591 were injured in Ludian County and the quake has also left 60 dead and 193 injured in Qiaojia County. This is the second quake in about two years. In September 2012, a 5.7-magnitude quake caused more than 80 deaths and injured over 800 people.

Survivors wait to be evacuated in the epicenter of an earthquake that struck the town of Longtoushan in Ludian county in southwest China's Yunnan province Monday. (Source: AP)

In this photo released by China's Xinhua News Agency, rescuers transport injured people after an earthquake in Zhaotong City in the densely populated Ludian county in southwest China's Yunnan Province. (Source: AP)

In this photo released by China's Xinhua News Agency, rescuers transport an injured man after an earthquake in Ludian County of Zhaotong City in southwest China's Yunnan Province, Sunday, Aug. 3, 2014. (Source: AP)

A man holds an injured child receiving medical treatment at a hospital following an earthquake in Ludian county in southwest China's Yunnan province Monday, Aug. 4, 2014. (Source: AP)